University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Doctoral Dissertations Student Scholarship Winter 2002 Impacts of the introduced crabs, Carcinus maenas and Hemigrapsus sanguineus, in northern New England Megan Conlon Tyrrell University of New Hampshire, Durham Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation Recommended Citation Tyrrell, Megan Conlon, "Impacts of the introduced crabs, Carcinus maenas and Hemigrapsus sanguineus, in northern New England" (2002). Doctoral Dissertations. 117. https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/117 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, pnnt bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize matenals (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. IMPACTS OF THE INTRODUCED CRABS. Can inns macnas and Hcm ii’raftsus sanguineus. IN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND BY Megan C'onlon Tyrrell B.A. Maealester College. 1W4 M.S. Um\ersiiy of New Hampshire. IW 9 DISSERTATION Submitted to the University of New Hampshire in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology December. 2(X)2 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 3070988 UMI UMI Microform 3070988 Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. This dissertation has been examined and approved. DissertatiorrBluector. Dr. Larry G. Harris Professor of Zoolouv Dr. Thomas D. Lee. Associate Professor of Natural Resources Dr. James F. Hanev. Professor of Zoolou\ ^ LL Dr. C. Sarah Cohen. Research Associate. Harvard I'niversitv. Cambridge. M A _______ Dr. L. David Smith. Assistant Professor of Biology. Smith College. Northampton. N1A Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. A C K NOW LEDGM E NTS Thank you to Dr. Larry Harris for encouraging me to studs the impacts of a crab species that is still very uncommon in northern Ness England. I truly appreciate the opportunities and experiences you have provided for me. Thank you to my committee members Drs. James Haney. Tom Lee and David Smith for constructive comments and insights on this work. Dr. Sarah Cohen was a mentor and supporter from beginning to end. Thank you to Dr. Jeh Byers for helpful discussions and to Dr. Chris Neefus for advice on statistical analysis. Thank you to Dr. Dan Hombach at Macalestcr College in St. Paul. M N for starting me on this path. Thank you to Harris lab members for support and patience. Thank you especially to Tricia Madigan. who conducted the first set of microcosm experiments and who has been an outstanding colleague and friend. Other people that made this work possible through their friendship and support include: Christa Biche. Jeff Markert. Gabby M arline/. Bruce Sommer. Ann Stork. Sally Turtle. Rebecca VVeisman. and Zoology Department graduate students, past and present. Penny Beuning. Lara Gengarelly and Petra Bertilsson-Friedman were vital colleagues and counselors. Thank you for your friendship and for always being there via email or phone. Thank you to Joe Ty rrell for field assistance on a blustery day and for support throughout this process. Thank you to M ary Tyrrell who has unceasingly encouraging. I guess you were right that cold afternoon in January 1996. Paul Ev ans has been a loving and wonderful partner throughout this process. This dissertation would not be possible w ithout his love and understanding. iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. This work was supported by grants from the Center for Marine Biology and the Graduate School of the University of New Hampshire. Additional grant support was provided by the A.V. Fund of the Noreross Wildlife Foundation. Two fellowships, one from the N O A A Fstuarine Research Reserve tor Great Bay Reserve and one from the University of New Hampshire dissertation fellowship provided vital support. IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................. LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................ LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................. ABSTRACT ........................................................................................... CHAPTER PAGE GENERAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. I I. TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL PATTERNS IN THE SETTLEMENT AND RECRUITMENT OF THE INTRODUCED C.REEN CRAB. Can inns macnas. IN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND ............................................................................................................. b Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 7 Materials and Methods ................................................................................................................... 9 Study sites............................................................................................................................9 Field Component ............................................................................................................. II Laboratory Component ..................................................................................................12 A nalyses...............................................................................................................................12 Results................................................................................................................................................. 13 D en sity ..................................................................................................................................13 S ize .........................................................................................................................................15 Discussion.......................................................................................................................................... lb II. COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ROCKY INTERTIDAL ZONE PRIOR TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF Hemigrapsus sanguineus Introduction......................................................................................................................................52 Materials and Methods ................................................................................................................. 54 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Study sites........................................................................................................................... 54 Quadrat sampling..............................................................................................................55 Statistical analysis............................................................................................................5S Results................................................................................................................................................. 02 Ft. Stark...............................................................................................................................b2 Odiorne Park ......................................................................................................................60 Hilton Park..........................................................................................................................75 Com m u n i ty ana 1 y sc s.......................................................................................................SO